Cisco’s advocacy neighborhood, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our clients collectively and offers a method for them to make highly effective connections, develop their skilled and private networks, and study from high specialists of their subject. One in every of our targets with our advocacy neighborhood is to deepen relationships with our clients. Our Q&A sequence permits us to shine a highlight on a few of our most passionate advocates as we study extra about their tales and backgrounds.
At the moment, we have now one of many friendliest faces in the neighborhood becoming a member of us for a chat. I’m excited to welcome Rob Taylor from Prosperity 24/7.
Welcome, Rob! It’s so nice to speak with you at this time. Let’s kick issues off by studying somewhat bit about who you’re.
I reside within the lovely island of Jersey, Channel Islands. It’s the southernmost gem within the English Channel’s crown, nestled simply 19 km west of the Cotentin peninsula of France.
I’m married with two grown kids, and my household is all the things to me. We’re all about these household holidays and spontaneous adventures—the extra energetic, the higher!
I’m not a professional, however you’ll usually catch me on the padel tennis courtroom or making an attempt my luck at badminton. Let’s simply say my abilities are a piece in progress, however it’s all in regards to the enjoyable, proper?
One factor you’ll be able to rely on with me is my glass is endlessly half full. I imagine in making essentially the most out of each second. So, right here’s to embracing life’s twists and turns with a smile and brightening every day with a smile!
The place did you begin your profession in IT? And, what skilled resolution or alternative helped lead you to your present position?
I used to be launched to IT in 2001, when conventional enterprise phone programs (PABXs) started transitioning towards IP telephony. I used to be a fish out of the water; simply 4 years prior, I used to be a budding electrician, shifting from apprentice to electrician, at an offshoot of Jersey Electrical energy Firm (JEC).
Then, JEC created a small splinter firm named Jersey Electrical energy Telecommunications; I used to be chosen to retrain as a phone programs engineer. Throughout my time at JET, I took on many duties, gaining expertise throughout gross sales, procurement, accounting, and finally, administration. It was essentially the most difficult and enjoyable time of my profession at that time.
5 years later, I used to be supplied a senior engineering place with Jersey Telecom. Inside the 12 months, I used to be appointed as senior account supervisor for company companies. Sadly, after 4 years, I spotted I used to be dropping my strengths as an engineer, and particularly in staying present on expertise and instruments, which was my ardour.
Destiny stepped in, and I used to be launched to the world of Cisco by a pair legendary consultants. These consultants turned nice mates, and I’ve the pleasure of working in partnership with certainly one of them to today. A few of you’ll have heard of him, CIA Rockstar Legend Simon Watkins. (Learn extra about Simon on this Cisco Insider Advocates Q&A!)
How has partnering with Cisco helped you in your position?
Partnering with Cisco has develop into the best recreation changer in my profession up to now, enabling me to upskill and, even higher, to leverage experiences in engineering, gross sales, advertising, and procurement to develop into certainly one of just some specialists throughout the Channel Islands to ship a compelling worth to service suppliers and digital integrators alike. By dedicating hours of finding out and self-development, I used to be in a position to start deploying and designing strong community options for companies all through the Channel Islands. All credit score to Cisco and their pre-sales and technical specialists who I’ve labored with on the extra superior options, simply one of many many “olive branches” Cisco provides to assist its companions.
Quick ahead a decade, and I’m now collectively heading up the community options staff inside a tremendous digital integrations enterprise, Prosperity 24/7, a Premier Integrator for Cisco. We now maintain two Cisco specialisations: the Networking Specialisation and the Environmental Sustainability Specialisation. We’re particularly pleased with the latter since sustainability performs an important position inside our enterprise.
Prosperity 24/7 have a devoted Atmosphere & Sustainability focus staff that works towards decreasing the affect companies have on the atmosphere. We accomplice with native companies which might be aligned and devoted to decreasing pointless waste and preserving our planet’s sources to realize this objective. It’s honest to say that almost all respected companies want to accomplice with organizations working towards a zero emissions baseline and as such, new alternatives and contours of income have opened. An instance is when a enterprise relocates to new premises; Prosperity 23/7 takes care of their previous premises by managing the recycling and repurposing of their previous community infrastructure, from the racks via to the customers desks, computer systems, and displays.
Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy neighborhood. It appears to be like such as you not too long ago joined this system and are already climbing up within the ranks as an Advocate Rising Star. How would you describe Cisco Insider Advocates to those that aren’t acquainted with it?
I joined Cisco Insider Advocates in 2023. I instantly noticed the worth on this neighborhood and the way, via gamification, I might take pleasure in studying about new services that provoke constructive conversations with purchasers, whereas constructing factors to redeem on future purchases via the Cisco Retailer. Becoming a member of and enjoying an energetic position inside CIA actually is a win-win scenario, and I genuinely suggest everybody be part of.
What made you need to be part of, and the way has being part of Cisco Insider Advocates impacted you each professionally and personally?
Over the previous couple of years, just a few colleagues and mates joined the neighborhood and have been clearly having fun with the expertise and the plentiful challenges they participated in. Not least, they loved the problem of rising via the ranks collectively.
After I joined the neighborhood, I too started collaborating within the challenges and located a lot of them to be each inspiring and insightful. Assembly just a few of the CIA members at Cisco Reside introduced a direct reference to them, particularly after we have been discussing our shared approaches to expertise and creating enterprise. I shaped new and valued friendships, and I’m wanting ahead to the following time we meet, whether or not that’s at one other Cisco Reside or after we go to one another’s nation.
On an expert stage, Cisco Insider Advocates is proving to be the proper vacation spot for self-development and encouragement to step outdoors of your consolation zone. An incredible staff helps Cisco Insider Advocates, and so they’re excited to help and encourage advocates to develop themselves and in flip, their careers. To succeed in the upper ranks, advocates can full challenges that may contain writing on-line evaluations, talking at a Cisco occasion, and so forth. These could also be out of the odd for a lot of engineers and consultants; nevertheless, with Cisco Insider, you’re given the chance to excel and develop your worth at your personal tempo. Many organizations see these newfound abilities as optimistic attributes and justification for a possible wage increase, or the explanation to decide on one candidate over one other.
Let’s transfer on to Cisco Reside 2024 Amsterdam held this previous February. You met a few of your friends from the neighborhood and members of Cisco’s Buyer Advertising staff for the primary time! What did you take pleasure in most about assembly everybody at Cisco Reside this 12 months?
Cisco Reside 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing wanting wonderful. Assembly friends from throughout the neighborhood felt like I used to be seeing previous mates that I hadn’t but met in individual. What an amazing bunch they have been!
Regardless that we’re new mates, dwelling in disparate jurisdictions, we might collaborate and share concepts and experiences with one another. It’s protected to say that the Insider neighborhood has enabled like-minded specialists, odd guys who share a thirst for all times, to attach and make a optimistic distinction.
I will probably be staying in contact, and we’re wanting ahead to the following time we reconnect in individual. Cisco Reside 2025, right here we come!
Through the convention, we supplied quite a bit of enjoyable actions on the Cisco Insider sales space. Amongst them, which was your favourite and why?
There was a plethora of enjoyable actions obtainable throughout Cisco Reside 2024, all of which have been really nice! What stands out for me most was the panel session (and wine tasting!) held within the sales space. The occasion featured one of many world’s Masters of Wine, of which there are lower than 500 in complete. All of us realized an amazing deal and loved the newfound style explosions in the course of the wine sampling (the very best bit).
My due to all of the staff for his or her work and energy in making the entire expertise memorable.
Earlier than I allow you to go, I’ve saved the very best questions for final! Do you’ve gotten any recommendation for anybody attending Cisco Reside for the primary time? What are your finest tricks to them to assist them put together, each earlier than and in the course of the convention?
- Make certain to hitch the Cisco Insider Advocacy neighborhood and climb these ranks.
- You’ll want to guide Cisco Reside early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they replenish.
- Make certain to present your self time in between classes to recoup—they’re going to be lengthy days!
- Benefit from the free Cisco examination and start getting ready as early as you’ll be able to.
- Take the time to socialize with like-minded mates that you just haven’t met but.
- Select your lodge and site correctly.
…and we’d love to complete with three issues you’ll be able to’t reside with out?
That’s simple (however it’s going to sound very boring!)
No.1 My household & mates (dishonest right here)
No.2 My well being
No.3 My zest for all times—adventures, enjoyable, ethical compass, and spontaneity
It’s been a pleasure to speak with you, Rob! Thanks for being a valued Cisco Insider and for becoming a member of us!
Learn extra advocate interviews.
You may take pleasure in this interview with Wouter Hindriks.
Be a part of us!
For our clients who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood, say hi there to Rob in case you haven’t met but. And in case you’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a neighborhood member, take into account becoming a member of. You’ll have the ability to:
- Join with friends in a gamified, on-line neighborhood
- Have a possibility to satisfy with Cisco’s executives
- Share your suggestions, questions, and finest practices
- Get entry to ‘insider’ content material and sources
- Develop your skilled and private model
- Amplify your organization’s success story with Cisco expertise
Able to get began?
Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood and say hi there!
(Requires registration / login)
Share:
